62 Proceedings of the 



a few darts, and then sink again. Tired of watching him, I went on 

 with my book, bat after a little returned, and found him quite dead, his 

 back curved downwards very considerably, and his mouth gaping half an 

 inch open. Taking him by the tail, I lifted him out as stiff as if frozen, 

 and further, observed his colour quite gone ; a very dark brown before, he 

 was now as pale as ashes. I had noticed something of this change of colour 

 in the first four affected, but not of so marked a kind as in this last one. 

 The three which recovered from the first attack remained to be tried 

 again, and were put in with the electric fish a second time, when quite 

 strong and lively. They swam and frisked about as playfully and safely 

 as on the first occasion, and I watched them intently, and for a longer time 

 than before, but observed no movement on the part of the electric fish, 

 though the others sometimes darted down among them. They seemed to 

 be more intent on eyeing me than minding their little visitors, one of 

 which was nearly three inches long, the others about two each. Tired of 

 looking and seeing nothing, I left them as before, and after a little re- 

 turned, when all three were lying benumbed at the bottom. Being re- 

 moved to another basin, one of them revived, the others were dead. The 

 dead ones were not, however, so powerfully affected as their companions 

 in misfortune ; they were not rigid, nor contorted, nor pallid, nor gaping. 

 Obviously they were not so severely struck as the others had been, the 

 powers of the electric fish being probably by this time somewhat weakened. 

 The one that still survived recovered completely to admit of a new experi- 

 ment. I confess to some misgivings of feelings on subjecting it to a 

 third and final trial ; but a remark in your note, if the electric fish eat 

 those they stunned; was yet unanswered. Therefore, in retiring for the 

 night, I gave it to them for their supper, if they should have any fancy 

 to make that use of their victim. But in the morning I found him, 

 though dead, yet otherwise uninjured. If you ask me what do they live 

 on ? I cannot answer. Those with me eat nothing. They are on my 

 study table, and I see them daily, but give them nothing. Even their 

 water is seldom changed, yet are they strong and lively. As I am told 

 that they lie much in the ooze at the bottom of the river, I have given 

 them sand to lie on, which they sometimes stir up with their tails. A 

 few times daily, but chiefly in the evening and early night, they plunge 

 about and make the water muddy. T cannot learn that they have been 

 ever found larger than a herring." 



Specimens of the Malapterurus, recently received from Calabar, were 

 again exhibited to the Society by Mr William Oliphant, and were by 

 him presented to Members, for further examination into their electric 

 organization. 



